How To Keep Cookies As Soft As The Day You Baked Them

The solution is more obvious than you might think.

By

Updated on November 13, 2023

Chocolate chip cookies, especially homemade ones, don't last long in my house. But if by some miracle, a batch of cookies lasts two or even three days, I still want them to taste as soft and chewy as they did when I pulled them out of the oven. Thankfully, there’s a way to keep your cookies just as soft and delicious as the day you baked them, and it’s super easy. Read on for our tips.

How to Keep Cookies Soft

There are two tricks to keeping cookies soft, and they are so simple and obvious you might be doing them already, but hear me out: Don't overbake your cookies, and store them in an airtight container. That's it! Some folks swear that placing a slice of white bread (or a flour tortilla) in the container with the cookies will keep cookies softer for longer. This may be true, but I have never needed to do it.

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies — Southern Living

And that's because I always pull the cookies out of the oven a minute or two before they are done baking. Most cookie recipes include a range of baking times, like "8 to 10 minutes." I recommend removing the cookies from the oven at the earlier end of that range. They may look slightly underbaked when you do this, but the cookies will continue to firm up on the hot cookie sheets as they rest for a few minutes. Once they have cooled (or if they are still warm—who can resist chocolate chip cookies at that stage?), they will have a perfectly tender texture that should last for a few days.

The key to the second trick, storing the cookies in an airtight container or ziplock bag, is to make sure the cookies have cooled to room temperature. If you seal the container when the cookies are still warm, steam will get trapped inside the container, which might soften the cookies too much. I prefer using a ziplock bag instead of a food storage container because I can press as much air out of the bag as possible, which also helps prevent stale cookies.

More Tips for Cookie Success

To ensure great cookies every time you bake, consider these tips:

Don’t overmix. Only mix the cookie batter until the ingredients are incorporated. Overmixing will lead to tough cookies.
Preheat the oven for a precise temperature and baking time.
Use more than one baking sheet, even if baking one batch at a time. A hot baking sheet will melt the dough before it goes into the oven, so start each new batch with a cool sheet.
Follow your recipe’s instructions. If it says to chill the dough or let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for five minutes, do it.
Don’t stack cookies while they’re still warm. Let them cool completely before storing.

How to Freeze Cookies

If your cookies may last longer than a few days, you’ll want to freeze them to keep them fresh and maintain texture. Pack unfrosted cookies in resealable freezer bags or plastic containers with parchment paper between the layers to prevent sticking. They can be frozen for up to eight months. Thaw frozen cookies at room temperature. Wrapped and sealed cookie dough can be frozen into logs or portions for up to six months. Thaw in the refrigerator until the dough is the right consistency for shaping.